pickup

Informal. a casual, usually unintroduced acquaintance, often one made in hope of a sexual relationship.

4.

an instance of stopping for or taking aboard passengers or freight, as by a train, ship, taxicab, etc., especially an instance of taking freight or a shipment of goods onto a truck.

5.

the person, freight, or shipment so taken aboard:

The cab driver had a pickup at the airport who wanted to be driven to the docks.

6.

Automotive.

capacity for rapid acceleration.

acceleration; increase in speed.

Also called pickup truck. a small truck with a low-sided open body, used for deliveries and light hauling.

7.

Baseball. the act of fielding a ball after it hits the ground.

8.

Also called cartridge. a small device attached to the end of a phonograph tone arm that contains a stylus and the mechanism that translates the movement of the stylus in a record groove into a changing electrical voltage.

9.

Radio.

the act of receiving sound waves in the transmitting set in order to change them into electrical waves.

also pick-up, "that which is picked up," 1848; see pick up (v.). As "act of picking up" from 1882. Meaning "capacity for acceleration" is from 1909; that of "recovery" is from 1916. In reference to a game between informal teams chosen on the spot, from 1905 (as an adjective in this sense by 1936).

Meaning "small truck used for light loads," 1937, is shortened from pickup truck (pickup body is attested from 1928). The notion probably being of a vehicle for use to "pick up" (feed, lumber, etc.) and deliver it where it was needed.